m 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



tivenlj the cents : bat in those day 8 there were no "ccntl' roun spofta- 

 lueii" to use their inlliienre to get Ilhvs pasted which made that. Hcrttmiml 

 off. iice. an,l I used lo look forward witu feelings of intense delight for 

 isou to come when we conld bat&ka oizrselyes to the wooila and 

 set our traps, and catch perhaps three dollars worth of partridges in one 

 Great rascals. Were WB not? though we canylit them on onr 

 fMher'a premises, 



i aiy brother and r grew np incorrigible pot-hunters; we speared 

 llsh; we caught quail under boxes; and. aa we grew older, we acquired 

 de art of nalug the "infernal old spill nut. " as your correspondent "11 

 II. P." atjles the common three-dollar shot gun. wv bave shot a) n 

 il •■ It or ifititl when huddled and killed live or six at one di-charge of 

 infernal old spill-out;" it was horrible, of course, and r>a ought to 

 hire been sent to prison ior it; but as I said previously the rrateriiity 

 3 elept '■gentlemen sportsmen" were not an i luck ou the ground then as 

 now, Aa l.ltue passed on we became so skillful in Ihe use of this "pop- 

 gun" a' to be able to wing grouse at forty yards, even when going al -£- 

 prese Speed We enjoyed ourselves to our heart's eoutontr, with os one 

 to molest us, no one to interfere; but alar! a change has taken place 

 i i. the advent of "gentlemen sportsmen" and we can only look for- 

 ward to the time when the owner or every old ".-pill out" be taxed 

 H ■! [y, aa recommended by "Medicns" in the Hod ami Gun, tat the 

 pi ivtluge of keeping one of these infernal machluos. 1 think that Mr. 

 MedScus would find the shores of Albion a more congenial clime for 



! bia proposition into effect; bat in fret: America il will never do, 



and I i hick it Lime to gut up a counter current, or very soon the '"geurle- 

 iuiiii sportsmen?' will have laws euacted which will exclude any person 

 from enjoving this glorious sport who does not own a three hundred 

 dollar gun and a setter worth as mnch more. I h tve given a brief out- 

 line of the. misdoings of a pot-hunter. Now 1 will give you a sketch of 

 the way m which the "gentlemen sportsmen" 1 recently met in Maine 

 adopted to secure large bags or tish and game. 1 was stopping at the time at 

 the hotel kept by Eben Ilmkley, at Uaugeley Lakes, and during my stay of 

 nine weeks 1 became intimate with many sportsmen from most of our 

 principal cities. This was one of their favorite modes of catching 

 irout. They would lush three or more hooks together, and when they 

 would hot rise at the fly Ihcy would grapple them with these hooks, by 

 dropping them under the fish, and jerking them into their bodies. Now, 

 sportsmen, don't hold up your hauds in holy horror, for perhaps you 

 have done as bad yourselves, so be charitable. That this was done I 

 can prove, and the guides are ever ready to teach the sportsman Ibis 

 manly art. 1 do assert that of all the trout taken while 1 was at llringe- 

 liy more than half were taken in this manner, and one of those sporta- 

 ni-oi from .Massachusetts told me he had taken trout enough that season 

 to iw-tirly balance his account with llil landlord. Ho it seems this Gen- 

 th rutin Sportsman had an eye to profit as well as sport. 



I will now proceed to tell you the mode they took to slaughter deer. 

 A party came out from Boston, and brought dogs, and hired guides. 

 Tliejr posted themselves in boats on son.c of the numerous lakes Willi 

 which that part of the country ts dotted, uud when the doge had driven 

 the deer to the water they would run up alongside the helpless victims 

 and place the muzzle or a rlllc that would shoot a thousaud yards to his 

 head and blow otti bis brains. 1 have witnessed this, and by Gentle- 

 men Sportsmen, loo. I have seen them lake or murder three in one 

 day, and this party of hloodB followid up this mode of slaughter for two 

 months, and probably sold venison enough to go a long way towards de- 

 fraying their expenses. I mention Ibis to show that these SO called 

 men Sportsmen are as fond of combining profit with pleasure as 

 lite boy who snared ihe grouse. 



I would like to know what your correspondent rtusticus could do with 

 the ISO ducks and geese, which he killed in five shots with that held 

 piece of his. Of course he had them served at his table, and may be 

 fravo them to his friends; for it is not. to be presumed that he would be 

 guiity of selling any. 



And now, Mr. Editor, I have come to one conclusion on this matter, 

 and thai is, that the tiue Gentlemen Sportsmen are as scarce as honest 

 poliiicians, and some of your con espondenta who nowl about the pot- 

 hunter are in reality the only true pot hunters, a 

 of the word; and when they cry out for laws t 

 keeps a gun. they will find considerable opposit 

 ositions. With beat wishes for the proapenty of Fokesi 

 I remain yours truly, 



We think that out correspondent makes one little mis- 

 take. He attributes the present scarcity of game to the 

 advent of the Gentleman Sportsman. We do not. We 

 ascribe il to the practices of snaring, trapping, and shoot- 

 ing into bevies by himself and others of the same senti- 

 ments. Had they been content to shoot their game in the 

 spirit of fairness and humanity which would give even a 

 bird a chance for his life, there might slill have been 

 enough for all without those laws which he considers ob- 

 noxious. One Bwallow does not make a summer, and be- 

 cause there are men who kill deer in the water, or catch 

 trout by foul means, it does not follow that the majority 

 of "Gentlemen Bporlfimen," by whom we presume our cor- 

 respondent means sportsmen who depend upon some other 

 pursuit for a livelihood, ure guilty of the same practices. 

 -Eu. 



— A. Ts'ew Hampshire correspondent writes: — 

 Messrs. Sweat ,fc lienistnn, who farm and b ini profession away 



up in the Big Intervale in the remote town or Abany, N. II , gi 

 Of a large yard or deer in the mountains situated in Bartjetl and Ahaiiy, 

 and froze to upwards of twelve. Sweat broueht home two alive ami 

 several dead ones. Keniston was seen to have six hanging up in hia 

 burn at once. Oomphiint has been made of this wholesale butchery, 

 winch took place after the Jaw took effect on .1 urinary 1st. The proba- 

 bility now is that ihe case will be immediately aLtended to by Comity 

 Solicitor Biie'l Carter, who will make It ''warm" for these two worthies 

 at. the spring term of Circuit Court, which sits at Ossipee. 



CutAarMLD, Pa.. March 13th, 1877. 

 Boitor Forest and Stbbam:— 



The killing of a large number of deer this winter after the close of the 

 season had the effect of stimulating our sportsmen to some degree, and 

 resulted in the organization of a sportsmen's association, having for its 

 object the protection of all kinds of game and game fish, and the pun- 

 ishment of law breakers, so far as possible. The Association starts out 

 very Enthusiastically with a membership of earnest workers, and 1 have 

 • o believe that the cause will not languish in their hands. 

 We have in this section considerable game, but it must be protected 

 from unlawful slaughter H any remains ten years hence. Deer Hill 

 ab Hind in sufficient, numbers to make spurt: pheasant or rulled grouse 

 b rye in abundance, but qnatl are very scarce. Black and grey squir- 

 rels are very plenty, we think np here, but it must be acknowledged 

 that the Florida man, who has them al the rate of fourteen to the tree is 

 very Tar ahead of us. though it, is not uncommon to And four on one tree 

 1 might remaik that foxes are pUmty, and that an occasional bear ia ao 

 bold as to show himself within sight, of town. Jox. 



lording to my definition 



t ix every person who 



onto their stilish prop 



.SB Stbbak. 



C. C. T. 



Salem, Mass., Feb. 26th. 

 EniTort Forest and Stream:— 



Reports give some quail yet left, and a falrslu 

 the most outrageous side of this matter ia the I 

 teuted.garae is exposed for eale in our market 

 snaring which is carried on in our county, particularly in some parts or 

 Uaiivcra, Mid.lletield and Topavillc. In lie- last town 1 am told by good 

 authorUytbat one, Samuel Urldles, snares partridges in the moat bare- 

 el I lately saw in our ma: 1 .exposed for 



partridges, but 



iviih which pro* 



sale that were snared, and the market has policemen in it every day; yet 

 those 1> ud offenses „re n.il. token the '.east notice of. There arc al. pies- 

 ent strom: efforts being made to alter our game laws so that they shall 

 be more effective, hul I doubt, if any great changes are made, save to 

 abolish summer cock shooting. This is an excellent clause, as if en- 

 forced (it will be iiunsuulir it. is) it will prevent the shooting of half 

 grown partridges. There is also some tiilk or increasing the tax on dogs 

 in ibis Slate. Our neighboring city of Lynn has the mad dog scare very 

 bnd, and Hll dogs not muzzled by owners are "snstched." I was over 

 .1 cily a »i ek ago, and il, was amusing to hear from differ 

 ent ones Ihe numerous ways mad dogs were affected, as by frothing at 

 lliemoulh, fits, horror of water, etc. One old gentlemau said Ihe scare 

 was shunning. "Why ," -aid he, "ibey say there has been twenty mad 

 dogs kilted in Lynn the past week. e\cw," said he. " 'taint so, for 

 nBinl. the time o' year fur dogs to run mud; 'taini dog days now, is il V" 

 But. thia will do f ronce. Hoping might and right will yet unite and 

 triumph on the side of justice, I remain, Teal. 



Nebhaska. — Both Houses of the Kebruska Legislature 

 have passed a game law, and the one the Governor sigus 

 will become law. Regarding the Senate bill a correspond- 

 ent writes : - 



Jackson Station, March Slh, is;?. 

 Editor Forest and Stream:— 



ir any of our eastern friends are not aware that the last Legislature 

 of this State was composed of the "masterminds" of the nineteenth 

 century, let them read the enclosed copy of game law they passed and 

 he convinced. If that he not sufficient to convince the most skeptical, 

 let them provide themselves with a copy of our (tbeir) "Qra&ehepper 

 Act." which says the supervisors shall notify me to perform two daya' 

 labor destroying grasshoppers, and may require me to pei form twelve 

 days' labor at Mich time and place as he may deem best, or pay a fine of 



Fancy the fix a man is in. Ir I don't go and light grasshoppers I am 

 set to burning off Ihe grass. I may destroy the nest, and eggs of some 

 bird, and have a line ot $15 and costs imposed upon me for violating 

 the bird act. If a hawk carry off my chickens, all the comlorl 1 have is, 

 Ihe Legislature gave him that privilege. Jam told the Governor has 

 signed both nets, and they are now laws. 1 claim to be » good law- 

 abiding citizen, but whether the "spirit will move me" lo atiide liter- 

 ally by these is doubtful. H. Q. C. 

 Toe law referred to by our correspondent is as lollows: — 

 ljfc it enacted by Ihe Legislature of the stale of Nebraska, thai 

 from and alt. r the 1st day of June, A. 11. WIT. il Shall he unlawful for 

 any person to take, wound, or kill any msccliverima, carhtverouS, or 

 any oilier bird within ihe Male, at any season; or intake oi destroy any 

 ulrd « egtja i tieBI bj any inn ; providing also that Una actshall uotap- 



Skc. %, Any person violating the provision at Sec. 1 of ibis act shall 

 he deemed guilty of a mi denit and upon conviction thereof in any 



c bavin ' lurladictton shall be fined to any sum nol less than live nor 



more lb in lilteeu dollars for each and every bird taken, wounded or 

 killed; and ror every biniv r. ,.,-.[ , ,, L _, i,,!.:,,, or tlest royed; sueh (in 

 when collected lo be paid into the Couuiy T 



scho 



and " 



jail or the c 



Sei . 'i- Tin- having In possession any uird 

 deemed and uken as prhna facia evidence that t 

 the person or persons having in possession the s 



UNACCOUNTABLE MISSES. 



THE American long-range riflemen know, too well, 

 what is meant by the word "unaccountables." For 

 the benefit of those who are not familiar with the meaning, 

 however, it can be added advantageously, titat it is a term 

 applied to the numerous unexpected and unexphtintd misses 

 which have occurred again and again to the marksmen who 

 shoot to any extent, more especially to those using breech- 

 loaders. There are many cases wherein the use of this 

 word has been abused. As an illustration of this fact the 

 following may be mentioned in illustration: It might have 

 been noticed frequently on a rifle range, say at Creedmoor, 

 where a competitor's last shot in a long range competition, 

 was a miss. If it had been a bullseyeor a center, it would 

 have made him a winner. Generally he will claim that it 

 was an "unaccountable." Unaccountably unsteady would 

 have been better, but to have given this fur an excuse 

 would be an additional loss of reputation. But misses do 

 occur when there is positively uo known reason. All ex- 

 perienced riflemen will agree to that, and it can be easily 

 seen that in getting one of these troublesome customers 

 whi'e in a contest, the competitor is very liable to become 

 perplexed and often unnerved. He not only loses con- 

 fidence in himself, but in his rifle, when he gets a miss, 

 unci feels almost positive that his calculations were correct. 

 Although many plnu.sable theories have been advanced, 

 none arc accepted by a majority Of those, who should 

 know, as a true solution of the difficulty. There is this 

 fact to be noticed, the "unaccountables" do nol: happen to 

 any extent while shooting a muzzle-loading rifle. To sustain 

 this assertion a compromise between the scores made by 

 the teams in the competitions for the Centennial trophy 

 and the championship of Ihe world al Creedmoor last year 

 will be sufficient In this contest the most skilled of the 

 loog-range riflemen of the world were present and the 

 world's best titles were in their hands. As all may know, 

 the Americans were the only ones on the field using breech- 

 loaders, and they made, notwithstanding their supremacy, 

 twenty-two misses. The Scotch had fifteen ami the Irish 

 only seven. Out of the Americans number at least ten 

 could not ba explained by either the unlucky shooter or 

 bis "coach." 'I hc-se treacherous shotsshould be thoroughly 

 "looked after." Their cnuse should be discovered and the 

 defect eradicated if possible. The long-range riflemen of 

 this country cannot expect to advance any more toward 

 perfection in shooting until they unroot this trouble; the 

 "bane" of so many good chances for excellent score?. 

 There is no reason why this cannot, be done. A co-opera- 

 tion between our ingenious riflemen Hie advancement of 

 theories, both practical and scientific, will perform the ob- 

 ject. Working on them if there should be any possibility 

 of obtaining a clua would certainly untie ihe knotty misses. 

 But where are the knots? Can a miss be caused through 

 a possible defect in the rifle which shoots, on the whole, as 

 "irueassteei." In lite above mentioned competitions, which 

 are the best known for a comparison on this point the 

 Americans made the Smallest number of "timers" and 

 "outers," also making thirty-eight more bullseyes than the 

 Scotch and exceeding the Irishmen's number by fifty. This 

 sustains the belief, taking all into consideration, that, the 

 American breech-loaders Shoot closer than the muzzle- 

 loaders of the other tennis. This is denied on the grounds 



i hat the Americans made more misies ihan the others in 

 the match, consequently their rifles shoot wilder. I it can 

 be proveri Uial the rifles thermelvcs weie the oai 

 unaccountable misses, there is no more use of investiga- 

 tion on the subject, but, this has nut. Ir imi done yet. Some 

 of the various theories are as follows: The ritles and am- 

 munition arc all right, but the trouble ali lies in the shooter, 

 mgh wnat is called mists ken vision, or in olber 

 words, seeing a target, where it is not, and thus not bitting 

 it; or else unconscienviously getting a bad "pull off." If 

 this is so, why are those using breech-loaders more liable 

 Ihan the others? Then there is auolher idea remov- 



ing all blame from the rifli 

 iug cause as coming from unfori 

 elements; such as a change I 

 light, density of atmosphere, &■ 

 There aie many known cases 

 all along the line," at one time, 

 (ions not iliscernable. But thtst 

 their cause was to be looked to 

 conn: in where two men are shi 



nd his tools ami 



eS in the natural 



l the wind, tempi-ial tin:, 



where misses have "run 

 hrotigh a chance ot condi- 

 i misses have Bbown where 

 -. The "unaccoui 

 >oting; one gets an unex- 

 ptainable miss and the oilier perhaps a bullseye. 



Both of the above theories would tend to prove that the 

 muzzle-loader and breech loader are t CjUally subject to ihe 

 trouble, which is not, so; the breed i loader being Ihe re- 

 cipient of the iarger proportion, iu fact almost, all of them. 

 This fact is acknowledged by the riflemen who have hail 

 experience and who are not interested in the manufacture 

 of the rifles. The defect is not supposed as a general thing 

 to be in the rifle itself, but that it exists iu the ammunition. 

 The shell tear the paper of the bullet, the paper is torn 

 or creased in putting Ihe cartridge into the rifle's chamber, 

 the bullet has a mar or scratch, u was too heavy or light, 

 or perhaps the powder was a litllc unevenly weighed ; all 

 of Ihese, slight as they may appear to the novice, have a 

 tt ndency to make a "wild" shot, but they may nol happen 

 once in a hundred shots to a careful riflemen. The follow- 

 ing is a theory advanced lo some extent in England: In the 

 present cartridges used for long range shooting, there is no 

 wad between the bnllet and powder and the bullet,, being 

 of a hard composition do not always expand evenly 

 enough to minimise the tendency of Ihe gases on the in- 

 stant of ignition to escape past Ihe bullet, without, the wad. 

 When the gas does not do so, evenly, "fire cut" will lake 

 place, thus produciuga wild shot. Here is another lluoiyou 

 bullets, which finds considerable favor among theCrci'diuoor- 

 ians: 'Ihe density or hardiness must agree iu propor- 

 tion to the amount of powder used. Of course there is a 

 limit to Ihe amount of powder anil hardness of the bullet. 

 Dining the first competitions for the selections of the Am- 

 erican team last year, several Creedmoor "cracks" shot 

 very unevenly, getting what they called unaccounuiblcs. 

 It was discovered that their bullets were two soft for the 

 amount of powder, (ranging from 100 to 110 grains,) Ihcy 

 were using, when battler bullets were used in the next. 

 competitions the poor shooting was not seen and splendid 

 scores were made by the same parties. There is another 

 idea to the effect, that the various metals Used in the bullets 

 do not get .sufficiently amalgamated, hence once in a while 

 a soft, bullet, or else one which is not equally hard in all 

 parts, and which will not swage evenly in the grooves of the 

 trifle, will te found, In this manner it, will lose its pro- 

 per momentum and prove to be a bad shot. 



Many mote plausabie theories which have been advanced 

 by experienced and reliable marksmen might b6 added. Only 

 one con ect solution is expected and whether it 

 the above or any other, no person has yet discovered, or if 

 he has, it has not been made known. Who will have 

 the honor of hitting the right thing first? Will 

 pion riflemen give their ideas and experience in i 

 Ihe matter? To do so will cause no harm and u ay be i f 

 excellent service to help the other riflemen of his country 

 discover ihe "why and wherefores," The defect if found 

 out wi 1 aid the American riflemen in being more reliable 

 and lo continue to hold their own as the champions of the 

 world. Oan 



Trrn Irish: Riflemen, — The Council of the Irish Hifle 

 Association held a meeting on the 83d ult , at the Mansion 

 House, Dublin. The Right Hon. the Lord Mayor was 

 called to the chain. Major Leech stated that the meeting 

 had been called for the purpose of taking action respecting 

 the resolution as to the Queen's prize. Hitherto only En- 

 glishmen and Scotchmen, but not Irishmen, were allowed 

 to contend for this royal premium. The meeting thought 

 it ridiculous that Irish riflemen should lie debarred from 

 oulering a national match which was open to Scotchmen 

 and Englishmen. A long list of peers and commoners at- 

 tached the weight of their signatures to a document ad 

 dressed lo the British Rifle Association praying 

 ture irishmen be permitledto contend for the Queen's prize 

 at, Wimbledon. 



CEBBBMOOB Jb. R-vNtiE.— Rifle match between Ihe Jour 

 neay & Bnrnham Rifle Club and Lord & Taylor 

 Saturday, March loth. Conditions, teams of eight, 10 

 shots per man, 100 yards off-hand. The following are the 

 scores:— 



.lOURNEAYi. BiAmUAW. 1-OB.D A TAYLOR. 



Nnme. Total. Name. Total. 



Metiiiillun.. IliHedpath 3D 



Brnyn aslctmtflelu 



Bennett.. 



Ml K me 



Began 



Jarnan 



l.ocliwood 



Calahan 



37i8ben 



Jlllialttish , ^5 



d ■'■: 







Lane J9 



Brown 2H 



Total 298 Total SSM 



Canada.— Our correspondent, at Welles Corners, On- 

 tario, writes: — 



In your journal of February 22d, you show a total for 

 Ihe Fisherville Amateur Rifle Club of 138 points. This 

 should have been 133, as the Belkitlf. team, making a score 

 of 138, won the prize. The Selkirk learn used a Frank 

 Wesson rifle instead of Smith & Wesson. The scores of 

 the Pisteerville Clubs show well for the Maynard title. G. 

 iN'ablo, 27; J. Oth r man, 29; O. Held, 26, The Sharp's is 

 behind here. I made a full score of 25 out of 2.1, at. 100 

 yards yesterday, with Maynard rifle, 35 calibre, 

 -13 out" of 50 at 100 yards, same rifle and date, yesterday, 

 making 9 consecutive bullseyes out of 13 shots. We art; 

 trying to get up another rifle club right here, which will 

 be in force soon. B. M 



^TlKO.-ASyr-e 



